I'm Thinking RB's..............

I have a blog friend named Robert Brault. He goes by 'rb' when he comments on my blog, or on his own blog, for that matter. You should check him out if you ever need a good quote on.....well, just about anything!

Need a good quote about parents?

I'm thinking RB's:

"If you have a dad, you have a hope,

and if you have a mom, you have a prayer."

On marriage?

I'm thinking RB's:

"Marriage is nature's way of ensuring

that a woman picks up

some mothering experience

before she has her first child."

On friendship?

I'm thinking RB's:

"Friends never ask
favors of their friendship.
They ask favors of each other,
making it clear that their
friendship is not at stake."

So, the next time you need a good quote. Remember to think RB's!! Just be sure to tell him that I sent you!

Obama's School Speech.....

Obama spoke on Tuesday to school children all across the nation.

Parents were nervous before the speech. What would he talk about? Would he indoctrinate our children? Would there be brain-washing involved?

In Minnesota, where I was visiting over the weekend, people were upset because the speech was due to take place on the first day of school. Teachers are trying to organize their classes, get to know their students, establish routines.

As a result of all these things, many schools chose to 'opt out'. I don't know yet if my grandson watched the speech, but I know that my two high school boys did not. One of the schools did tape the speech and is planning on showing it today. Only students with parental permission may watch it. My other son wasn't even given the choice.

I am bothered by this. I know that I've complained once or twice about Obama. And I will be the first to say that I don't agree with a lot of the things that he's doing. BUT....he is the President of the United States!! The Commander in Chief. The Top Dog.

I don't see where individual school administrators get away with NOT showing his speech. It makes me angry that they made the decision for all parents that this speech would not be appropriate for our children to watch. It is my opinion (and that's usually what you get here) that ALL schools should have shown the speech. I think they had an obligation to show the speech. As I said before, by NOT showing it, they took away my children's right to hear their president address them in a school setting. If parent's don't want their kids to see it, they can send a note to the school or keep them home. But that is the PARENT'S decision, not the school's.

I think that if parents are that concerned about a President's speech, then they should watch it, too. Talk to their children about it. Maybe even watch it with their children, then have a back and forth discussion about it. Not just his school address, but all his speeches. We need to be raising children who are aware, not hidden away. Who can see through rhetoric and politics and pick out the important information. Who can respect the office of president even when they may not agree with some of his policies.

I watched the speech on the internet. We will probably watch it again over the weekend...as a family. And talk about it together. I think Obama did a great job. I think he was right on track with the message he gave the kids. I may even pull a couple of quotes from his speech and post them on my kitchen cabinets (that's where I post things I want my kids to see day-after-day).

And how about we let the schools be schools and the parents be parents.

I'm B-a-a-a-a-ck..........

I realize that it's been quite a while since I've posted. There are a number of reasons for this.

1. I really haven't had much to say lately.....lucky you!

2. I've been busy getting the kids back into the school routine. Sam started August 10th, Peter on August 19th, and Mary on the 24th. Can we not coordinate this people??!!

3. I was out of town. I went to the lovely, air-conditioned, state of Minnesota, where I ate state fair mini-donuts, went to the Mall of America, spent a wonderful afternoon on a lake, and visited with family. Most importantly, my 85 year old father. He is doing remarkably well, thanks for asking. He has Parkinson's, so is a little shaky and moves a little slower than he used to, but all in all, I think he's doing great!! (I also spent time with two brothers, one sister, a BIL, a SIL, and and various nieces, nephews, a couple of cousins and an aunt.)

But now.....I'm back. The kids are going strong in school, vacation is over, and I may just have a thing or two to say about a variety of subjects.

So, if you're up for it.......I'll keep on writing, you keep on reading. And let's have some fun!

Call Your Mother!!!

Stop whatever you're doing right now and call your mother!

Early morning. Blog surfing.

I was catching up on some blogs that I'd missed while on vacation. In one of them, this young mom was talking about friendship. Specifically, women and the bond of friendship. It was when she said that she chatted with her mom about the topic that I unexpectedly lost it.

My mother died when I was 19. That means she's been gone more than 30 years. You'd think that I'd be over it by now, but no, when I read that line about my friend chatting with her mom about something I started bawling. Sitting at the computer, early Sunday morning, crying my eyes out because of all the missed 'mom' conversations.

I hate that I don't have a mom to talk to about things.

I hate that I can't call my mother when something important.......exciting.........tragic.........scary........mundane
happens in my life.

I hate it when other people take their mothers for granted. Mothers should NEVER be taken for granted. They are a privilege, a blessing, a gift. I'm sorry to be the one to tell you, but your mother WILL NOT always be there.

Your mom may not be perfect (guess what....you're not either!) But she is your mom. And she did the best she could. So, take a minute. Call your mom. Tell her your sorry for any heartache you've caused over the years. For all the gray hairs you put on her head. And tell her you love her. She deserves that much.

Just for a Moment.......

It was Friday. But it could have been any one of a hundred Saturdays from my childhood.

The clink of the coins in the change machine.

The swish of the water as it filled the washers.

The hum of the dryers.

The warm summer breeze flowing through the doors flung wide, front and back.

The stained, worn linoleum.

The tired vending machine.

The easy conversation of strangers.

Folding clothes.

Matching socks.

Feeding quarters into machines hungry for more.

Watching the wash spin....first in the washer, with suds so thick I can hardly see anything else. Then in the dryer, fresh and clean.

The dryer beeps, signaling the end of the cycle. My load is done. Still damp, but dry enough to fold and take home. Yet, the air is thick with the memories of those childhood Saturdays. I'm not ready to leave yet. So I feed another quarter into the dryer, and settle back......while the world goes on without me........just for a moment.

Cookies? Or Paint?

So, here's my question.............

If I make chocolate chip cookies while my house is being painted.....

Will the paint absorb the smell of the cookies so my house always smells like freshly baked cookies?

Or.........

Will my cookies taste like paint?

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom Not My Own.....

"As you seek new opportunity, keep in mind that the sun does not usually reappear on the horizon where last seen."

--Robert Brault

I have to admit that I have trouble with this one. I tend to look back with fondness and longing at opportunities and experiences past.

Forgetting sometimes that new adventures lay ahead. Forgetting that the much loved times gone by were once new and frightening as well.

I hesitate to step out of my comfort zone. I cling to the past, having to be dragged into the future as a child has to be peeled off of a parent on the first day of school.

Thanks, rb, for the reminder. A reminder that adventure awaits ahead and all that's left behind me are memories.

Validation.....

Validate:

1. to make valid; substantiate; confirm: Time validated our suspicions.

2. to give legal force to; legalize.

3. to give official sanction, confirmation, or approval to, as elected officials, election procedures, documents, etc.: to validate a passport.

I've been thinking a lot about the word 'validate' lately. Validate. Validation. Validated. Validating.

It started when Mary had jury duty. We were discussing where she should park when she went downtown and I commented that she should probably park in the court approved lot because then the court would most likely 'validate' her parking stub.

I then started to think of all the things we 'validate'......

--parking stubs

--passports

--legal documents

And then I began to wonder why we validate parking but we don't validate each other.......why don't we validate our friends, neighbors, family members? While thinking about this, I came across this video. It's kind of long, but WELL WORTH watching.

By the way......I think you're awesome!!

Reality Television......

I don't watch reality TV. I'm not judging anyone who does, I'm just not into it. I watched the first couple of seasons of Survivor, but then it got old. I run across some shows when I'm flipping channels so I'm familiar with some of them.

Jon and Kate? Yeah, I've heard of them. I know they have 8 children. I know that they have announced a separation and possible divorce. Not that anyone cares, but here's what I think......

Sorry, Jon and Kate. You don't get to separate. You don't get to get divorced. You have no right to. Instead, you have obligations. You have 8 children that you chose to bring into this world. None of your problems are their fault. They should not have to pay the price for your stupidity. They deserve to be raise by both parents in a stable home.

I don't care about your personal happiness. I think you need to man up, honor your vows, renew your commitment to one another and raise your family. And I think you need to do it in private. I hope that you've set aside some of the millions that you've earned by parading your clan in front of the public. Now close the door, say goodbye to your adoring fans, and try actually being parents instead of actors. Your "fans" may be sad to see you go, but you owe infinitely more to your children than you do to your adoring public.

I know that it will be hard to live day-to-day without the cameras recording your every move for posterity. Without all the fan mail and millions of $$ rolling in. And how will you get by without the network paying for your vacations? But, maybe your family time will mean more when it's actually family time and not prime time.

Now cut your losses, and go be a family.

Judging Books by Their Covers.......

They say that you should never judge a book by it's cover.

Then, how exactly should we judge a book?

I think we need ratings on books. I don't really care how we rate them. It can be the same rating system we have for movies: G, PG, PG-13, R. Or we can use the system used by some cable television systems: V(violence), S(sexual content), L(language).

Whatever I need a rating to tell me if the book has bad language. There is some language that I find offensive. I need a rating to tell me about sexual content. I do not need to know all the details!! Some books are almost pornographic in their descriptions. Yet we are not warned ahead of time!

I hate to spend money on a book only to find out later that it should have had an "R" rating on the cover! I have thrown away more than a few books because of their content. (I don't donate them because I don't want to subject others to things that are offensive to me!) So.....being that books don't come with ratings...how do we decide which ones are 'safe' so to speak?

I am currently looking for a 'new author'. I tend to find authors that I enjoy, and then read everything they've ever written until I run out and have to start my search again.

I like Clive Cussler, Dick Francis, David Baldacci, Robin Cook.

Please tell me some of your favorite authors. If I don't find something soon, it's going to be a L-O-N-G summer!

Six Word Stories....Are Such Fun....

I heard about 'Six Word Stories' a while ago and I've been wanting to try it out. The premise is simple: tell a story using only 6 words.

Supposedly, sometime in the 1920's, Ernest Hemingway was challenged to write a such a story. He wrote, "For sale. Baby shoes. Never worn."

You can find out more about Six Word Stories here.

Here are some of mine:

Rode Bike, fell, bled, tried again.

Childhood. Freedom, adventures, friends, innocence, home.

Afraid of change, I stay put.

To go home again, I write.

Mom, can I? Please say no.

Free agency is much too expensive.

How did you get this number?

Once a brother, now a stranger.

Lake house. Where summer never ends.

I really had fun with this. It's almost addictive. I'm sure that you are much more creative than this....so show me what you've got!!

Desire vs. Reality......

I discovered (long ago) that wanting something does not equal having something. Wanting your children to get along will not make it so. Wanting a job will not get you hired. Wanting to be good at something will not mean that you will be good at something.

For instance, I want very much to be 'crafty'. I want to cross-stitch and quilt and sew. I want people to come into my cozy home and exclaim "Oh, did you make that?!" and be able to glance humbly at the wall-hanging, or quilt, or tapestry and say "Oh, that? It was nothing."

I want to be an amazing photographer. Oh, I've taken some good pictures in my lifetime, but I want to take the kind that people will pay hundreds of dollars for and be amazed at how I captured the light or the mood or the expression on a child's face.

I want to scrapbook. I want each of my children to have an amazing book (or several) to look at and remember all the fun times they had growing up. The vacations, the school plays, the Christmas mornings. It's not going to happen.

I also want very much to be able to play a musical instrument. I'm thinking maybe the piano....or the guitar....or maybe the drums. (Rock Band on the Wii is giving me a false sense of hope for my budding musical aspirations.)

Unfortunately, simply wanting these things will not make them happen. Procrastination is my constant companion. I am forever considering projects, dreaming of projects, even starting projects....but they never get finished.

I give you exhibit A: I started this project when I was a Beehive in MIA. MIA stood for Mutual Improvement Association. It was the youth group at my church consisting of the boys and girls between 12 an 18. The Beehives were the 12-13 year old girls. (This organization still exists today, but it's simply called 'Mutual' now) This means that I started this project sometime around 1970. I take it out every once in a while, and think how nice it will look when it's framed and hanging in a place of honor in my home.....then I pack it back up again for another 5-10 years. But I never give up hope. I still believe that 'someday' I will finish it.

Exhibit B:

Here is my quilt project. I bought this 'quilt-block-of-the-month' kit back in 1997. I was convinced that I would find time to do just one block a month! I actually started the first block, but the pieces didn't line up the way I wanted them to (ie: perfectly) so I packed it up again. It's also on the 'someday' list.

As far as the scrapbooking goes, well, let's just say it's on the back burner. When Mary was about 5 (she just turned 21) she came to me asking where she was in the scant photo albums that I had patched together. I told her that she wasn't in there because those pictures were taken before she was born. (At the time I had 6 children under 10, I barely had time to shower in those days!) She gave me her most horrified expression and replied: "You took pictures before I was born!!" I ended up buying her a 4 X 6 photo album at the dollar store, handing her a shoebox full of pictures and telling her to make her own photo book. (a testament to the fabulous mother that I am!) She did make her own, and still has it today and continues to add pictures. Maybe I should just get her the rest of the supplies and put her to work!!

I could go on and on, but it seems that blogs are about the only things that I have learned how to finish!

Chrysler......

I heard that Chrysler was whining the other day. Something about how they're going to have to file bankrupcy if things keep going the way they are. Chrysler, who has already recieved 4 BILLION government dollars, says that there are three things that need to happen for them to avoid bankrupcy:

1. They'll need MORE government money.
2. They need to close a deal with Fiat.
3. They will need to have some of their debts forgiven.

#1: More government money:

ABC News reports that the Obama administration has told Chrysler that if they close the deal with Fiat by month's end, they will provide the company with another $6 Billion. Along with up to $500 million in 'working capital' while they restructure.

My thoughts: why would the government continue to throw good money after bad?? If Chrysler is a sinking ship, so be it. Companies fail every day, you can't bail out everybody. If you're going to spend the bailout money anyways, use it as severence pay to all those losing their jobs when Chrysler goes under. I'll bet that a quarter to a half million dollars each would keep food on the table until they found other jobs.

#2: The Fiat Deal:

Why in the world would Fiat want to form an alliance with a failing US Automaker?? Well, why not, if the US govenment is going to keep throwing money at them!

My thoughts: Fiat!! Run!! Save yourselves!! There has got to be a better way for you to help your business than by jumping ONTO a sinking ship. Who makes your business decisions, anyways?! If joining forces with a bankrupt company is his idea of a good business deal......well, let's just say that you may have personnel issues!

#3: Debt Forgiveness:

Daimler has already agreed to forgive repayment of a $1.5 Billion loan and make 3 annual $200 million payments into Chrysler's pension plans beginning this year.

My thoughts: Until these companies start forgiving the debts of Joe Car Owner, they have no grounds for even asking for debt forgiveness!! I say that everybody whose auto loan is held by Chrysler gets their debt forgiven before the government gives them another dime!! Let Chrysler lead by example, then we'll talk.

Conclusion:

If Chrysler made a product that the American people actually wanted, they wouldn't be in this position. Why would we bail them out so they can continue to make a crappy product and provide crappy customer service? If the ship is sinking, then it's sinking for a reason. Play the funeral dirge and let it go. Maybe if we actually let one of the big automakers die, the others will notice and try harder to meet the real needs of the consumers: quality product, good customer service, affordable transportation. (Maybe they should ask Honda and Toyota how it's done!)

Virtual Worlds...

I don't get the whole 'virtual world' of gaming that's going on today. Maybe it's because I'm getting older, though some of my 'old' friends seem to be getting into the game.

I had an invitaion on Facebook the other day to join in a game called "Yoville". It sounded a little like Dr. Suess to me, but I thought that if my friends are playing, maybe it would be fun. I was wrong!

So far, I have learned very little about how to play. I have created a character, and now I spend my time either in my virtual apartment, or I go to work.

I don't know how to interact with people on the game.

I haven't figured out how to decorate my apartment.

I can't even sit on my own couch!

My friends send me 'messages' that say nothing but 'cc'. After 15 or 20 of those, I messaged someone back and asked what it meant. "Coin Collecting" was the cryptic reply. Apparently, you get coins for messaging, but why not a real message? Why not, "Hi, how's it going?"

My virtual world has a gym.....I don't go to the gym in the real world, what makes you think I'm going to use a virtual gym?

My virtual world has a coffee shop.....I don't drink coffee. Why would I want a virtual latte?

My virtual world has a factory......all I do is punch a timeclock and I get credit for working......I know it doesn't work like that in the real world!

I know people who spend hours every day in their virtual worlds. They make virtual friends and have virtual fun. They build virtual lives in a computer world. It just makes no sense to me. I like to interact with real people and go real places. I do like games, just not virtual ones.

Monopoly anyone? I call dibs on the Top Hat!

What Next?!

What do these two things have in common?

They are both being given out at the drive thru at my bank.

If I drive through with a kid, they give the kid a sucker.

If I drive through with a dog, they give the dog a biscuit.

Mary is hoping that the next time she's with me at the drive thru they're handing out Patrick Dempsey!!

Virtual Friends.....

So, my husband and two of my boys were at a church meeting tonight. Jacob (having had surgery on his collarbone yesterday) was sleeping, and Mary was playing video games. It was a nice peaceful evening, the computer was available, so I decided to catch up on some blog reading.

I was in the middle of this blog, when my husband and boys walked in from their meeting. My husband looks at the blog and says: "So, who's that?" To which I replied, "Um...... well..... I don't actually know her, but her name is Celia and she has 4 kids (I named them all) and this is her husband, Carl. But it's okay for me to read her blog because she's the friend of a friend so she's kind of my friend too!"

It sounded lame, even as I said it. Joe just shook his head and walked away. I shouted after him..."It's okay to have 'virtual friends', you know! It's not like I don't have any 'real life' friends!"

So, now I've decided that I need to come up with cover stories for all those blogs I read. For instance....Celia and I have been best friends since college (never mind that Celia was probably 8 year old when I was in college!) I could say something like "Oh, come on honey, don't tell me that you don't remember Celia! She was in our Business Law class!"

Other 'virtual friends' could be:
--'an old friend from high school'
--'she was in my ward growing up'
--'I met her when I served at Girl's Camp that one year'
--'oh, her? She in the other ward'
--'my mom's cousin's daughter'

You can see that I obviously need help here.....

.......your assignment??

Plausible cover stories. I'll be waiting.

Nothing like a relaxing walk.....

Dinner was done. Kitchen was clean. It was only 5:45 and the beautiful evening was calling me to come out and play. Here's how the next hour played out:

"I'm going for a little walk. Anyone want to come?"
(Guess which kid wanted to come. The one in a cast.)

"Peter, you're in a cast. I don't know that you can go on a walk."

"Okay, then I'll just ride a bike."
Great plan. Except that after struggling to get the bike out of the garage we discover that his bike has a broken seat.

"Maybe I could ride Eleanor's bike."
Manuvering carefully between the van, the other two bikes, and the garage wall, we finally get the other bike out. Two flat tires.

"Maybe they're not really flat. Maybe they just need to be pumped up."
By now, I'm losing my desire to take a walk, but I'm trying really hard to be patient. The kid has been cooped up in a splint or cast for a month now, he's stir crazy and just wants to get some exercise and fresh air.

So we pump up the tires. Once around the cul-de-sac tells us that, while it's not ideal, it might work. So, off we go. Me walking, him riding.

Half way down the street:
"This seat is really uncomfortable."
(I bite my tongue and keep walking.)

Down the street and around the corner.
"These pedals are spiky!"
"Well, maybe you should have worn a shoe on the other foot."
(one foot in a cast, the other with just a sock on)

Down to the next cul-de-sac.
"These gears are really messed up. I don't think I can ride this thing."

I tried to keep smiling as I asked what his plan was for getting himself and the bike back to the house.
"Maybe Mary could drive down and pick me up."

Which is how I ended up walking slowly home with a bike whose tires were steadily losing air and had crappy gears and spiky pedals.


Next time, I'm sneaking out the door and leaving the kids a note.

The Dreaded 'To-Do' List........

You know how sometimes, in the morning, you make a list of 'things to do today', and then you NEVER finish the list and you feel like such a loser? I mean, the list certainly seemed reasonable and do-able when you wrote it, so what did you do all day that you couldn't finish the stupid list???


I have a solution: Write the list at night instead of in the morning. Sit down before you go to bed and list all the things you did that day: laundry, carpool, dishes, etc. Then, (this is the good part!) CHECK THEM OFF!! You will be amazed at how much you accomplished! And how good you feel about yourself. Go ahead, give it a try!


You're welcome!

Snow Day 2009.....

Yes, we actually had snow here in SC! Peter could not enjoy it because of the broken leg, Mary thought it was too cold to go out, so Sam is the only one who had fun in the sun (and snow). School was closed yesterday, and again today (We've got 4 inches!! of snow, people, how can you expect us to go to school when there are 4 inches of snow on the ground!!) Here are a few pics for you to enjoy......Notice that Sam has bare feet, it was actually fairly warm later in the day, and he was SO excited to be able to shovel snow. He had a blast shoveling our driveway and walkway. (This is what comes of raising kids in the south!)

Street Creds......

What does it take for an artist/musician to have 'street creds'? Is it the tattoos? The gold tooth? The number of arrests? Or women? Or cars? Or fights? Is it the 'Bling'? The way they walk? Or talk? Do you have to be 'ghetto' to have street creds? I've never quite understood it.

I've never paid much attention to L.L. Cool J. Had you asked me, I probably wouldn't even have been able to tell you what kind of musician he is. Not that I didn't like him, I just wasn't familiar with him or his music. (To tell you the truth, I'm still not!) The same is true for a lot of other musicians as well..... James Blunt, Hootie and the Blowfish, REM, Goo Goo Dolls, Chris Brown. I had heard of these artists, and listened to some of their music, but really didn't give them much thought.

So why would I list them together like this? There is a variety of music represented here. Well, here's the connection that gives them all 'street creds' in my book. 'Sesame Street' creds, anyways. They have all appeared/performed on Sesame Street. Now, they may have their faults, and maybe I don't like some of their music or lyrics or whatever else.....but you can't be ALL bad if you've been on Sesame Street!! How tough can you be if you hang out with muppets? To me, any grown man who can get down on a kid's level and sing with Elmo and the gang, must have some good in them.

So, there you have it.....my list of musicians/artists with some real 'street creds'.